I picked up 'A Japanese Boy' expecting a historical account, but what I got was something much more intimate. Published in 1889, it's Shigemi Shiukichi's firsthand story of growing up in Yokohama during the Meiji Restoration, a time when Japan transformed from a closed feudal society to a modern world power at breakneck speed.

The Story

The book doesn't have a plot in the traditional sense. Instead, it's a series of vivid memories from Shiukichi's boyhood. He starts with life before the foreign ships arrived—a world of strict rituals, traditional dress, and familiar customs. Then, everything changes. He describes the arrival of Westerners as almost alien: their tall ships, their strange clothes (especially the cumbersome hoop skirts!), and their baffling machines. The memoir walks us through his daily life as these two worlds collide. He talks about trying new foods, the struggle to learn English, and the quiet tension in his household as old values bump against new necessities. The central thread is his own education, both in a traditional school and in the confusing, exciting 'school' of a rapidly westernizing port city.

Why You Should Read It

What makes this book special is the perspective. History books tell you what happened during the Meiji era; Shiukichi makes you feel how it happened to an ordinary family. His voice is curious, observant, and often humorous. You feel his childish awe at a steam locomotive and his subtle sadness as parts of his heritage begin to fade. It’s not a political analysis; it’s a human story about change, identity, and watching your world turn upside down. In our own era of rapid globalization, his reflections on cultural exchange feel surprisingly current.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect, quick read for anyone interested in personal stories from history, not just dates and treaties. If you enjoy memoirs, coming-of-age tales, or learning about other cultures from the inside out, you'll find this fascinating. It's also great for readers who want to understand modern Japan's roots. Think of it less as a formal history lesson and more as a long, captivating letter from a boy who lived through one of the most dramatic shifts any society has ever experienced.